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Wheel manufacturer MAK S.p.A. has announced its intention to exhibit at this year’s Autopromotec, to be held between May 20 and May 24. The company comments that Autopromotec represents a “fundamental appointment” for MAK, as it views the fair as being “the most suitable place and occasion to meet national and international dealers” and to display its most significant wheel designs.
Natural rubber production is expected to fall by around 2.2 per cent during the course of 2009, following a 0.4 per cent dip in 2008, according to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), which represents 94 per cent of global production. According to the latest monthly report published by ANRPC all natural rubber (NR) producing countries have entered into a “declining phase.”
Thailand, which is the largest NR producing country in the world and is said to account for around a third of global supply, saw production drop 13.9 per cent year-on-year in the first two months of 2009. Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand predicts that 2009 production levels will by 0.5 per cent compared with from 2008, making it the market least affected by the apparent global decline.
Various news sources have reported on disputes between management and workers at the Thailand operations of various international companies, including Michelin and Goodyear. According to Bangkok based publication The Nation, up to five hundred workers demonstrated on a range of issues, including Goodyear (Thailand) laying off 160 workers without any advance notice and Siam Michelin cutting salaries by 13 per cent and reducing working hours.
On April 13 Michelin North America announced plans to close its BFGoodrich passenger and light truck tyre factory in Opelika, Alabama. The company says this ‘restructuring plan’, which will lead to the plant ceasing production by October 31, is being pursued in response to an unprecedented drop in market demand.
North American consumers are, Michelin adds, driving fewer miles, purchasing fewer vehicles and delaying tyre purchases. For this reason the company has a significant overcapacity in these markets – and Michelin says it doesn’t expect this overcapacity to ‘rebound in the near term’. This appraisal of the current market situation is in line with that of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, which expects North American tyre sales volume to decline this year for the second year in a row.
Maxxis has partnered with Max Power in an affiliation programme that gives the company opportunities to promote its range to the lucrative tuning, styling and performance sector. The deal, which officially began in March 2009, will see Maxxis support a series of Max Power tyre features, raise its profile through branding on the magazine’s website and provide product for testing and subsequent reporting in the popular ‘Max Garage’ pages. Maxxis will also sponsor the ‘InGear’ tuning section and the two companies will collaborate at four major performance/tuning shows throughout the year: the International Styling and Tuning Show (April 11-12), the UK Modified Nationals Show (May 23-24), the Modified and Performance North East (July 19) and Ultimate Street Car (August 1-2).
The Maxxis Babes will be in attendance at these events and Maxxis will also be taking along its new hospitality facility. Featuring a striking Maxxis livery, the glass-fronted trailer unit incorporates a 12.5m x 8m awning, a separate stage area, kitchen and an upper deck – which will be dual-branded to reinforce the partnership – where guests can enjoy great views of the action.
In an interview with Italy’s Il Giornale newspaper, Pirelli CEO Dr Francesco Gori said he estimates that European tyre market to fall 10 per cent during 2009. He noted that the “second and third quarters will be crucial” for the market, as he foresees that the “general halt” caused by economic crisis in the first quarter will be compensated by the October to December period.
HiQ is set to offer two new innovative automotive accessories for customers. The HiQ network will soon offer high performance eco-friendly lamp bulbs and tyre pressure monitoring systems to motorists across Britain. HiQ retail support manager Paul Michell decided to bring the items into stock after identifying the demand for such items following meetings with centre managers and their customers.
The Phillips energy saving bulbs are guaranteed to last for 12 months, offer up to 20 per cent energy savings and will be available to purchase online shortly. The tyre pressure monitoring systems, produced by tyresure, not only advise motorists if their tyres are losing pressure, but also monitor tyre pressure without the need of a gauge.
In the medium to long term, demand for passenger car radials in China is expected to increase. To meet this growing demand, Bridgestone announced on April 13 that it will increase production capacity at its Bridgestone (Wuxi) Tire Co., Ltd. facility in China’s Jiangsu Province. The company reports that it will receive government funding to facilitate a capacity increase at the five-year-old plant.
Production has officially commenced at Kenda Rubber’s new facility in Tianjin, China. Approximately US$23 million has been invested in this first phase of the project – a total of $200 million has been set aside for work at Tianjin. The second phase is set to be launched in July.
During the past 25 years Evergreen Global has developed from a small Singapore based wholesaler into a well-known truck tyre supplier offering its own brands, “United”, “Global Star” and “Matrix”. The next stage in the company’s development, outlined general manager Lancy Nazareth during Tyrexpo Asia, is to establish a presence in the European market.
Since the early 1980s, when company founder Ram Niranjan Jatia moved his business – which in those days dealt exclusively with the yarn trade – from Mumbai to Singapore and entered the tyre business, Evergreen has seized the opportunity to set up branch offices in numerous global locations: Today the company’s network of offices includes sites in Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Dubai, India and Brazil.
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has introduced a new Toyo Open Country H/T with “Tuff Duty” in the US. According to the company the tyre is engineered for high torque diesel pickup trucks that tow trailers or occasionally haul heavy loads. The Open Country H/T with Tuff Duty is an extension of the company’s flagship Open Country H/T for light trucks and SUVs. The tyre is available in five 16- to 17-inch sizes for Chevy, Ford and Dodge 3/4 and 1-ton pickups. All are load range E.
Kei Racing has released a new wheel design aimed at the “modified market.” The Tachi (pronounced Tar-Chee), is said to be named after a deadly instrument favoured as the weapon of choice for many Samurai warriors in feudal Japan so, say company representatives, “it’s highly appropriate for Kei’s cutting-edge wheel technology and design.”
The new Japanese design features a matt-gunmetal finish and uses a strong and a simple 10 spoke design to offer good looks with wide calliper clearance for brake cooling. Size wise, there’s something for everyone, with 15 x 6.5, 17 x 7 and 18 x 7.5 all available in a huge array of 4 and 5 stud patterns, covering nearly all core Jap, Tuner and Euro cars. The 15-inch variant is set to retail at just £86.69 each. While the 17 and 18-inch wheels come with £122.50 and £150.34 price tags respectively.
Tire Group International (TGI) has announced the hiring of Orlando Delgado as senior vice-president of business development. Delgado re-joins TGI with “over 20 years of international market experience with emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean.” Prior to joining TGI, he spent several years as director of logistics for a world leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of toys and family products. According to a company statement, TGI hopes Delgado’s expertise in Latin American and Caribbean markets will allow the tyre wholesaler to reach its strategic objective of continuing to open sales offices throughout the region.
Goodyear UK is to replace 13 sizes of its DT818 A8/B radial drive farm tyre range with a high speed version in during 2009. The new version, called DT818 HIGH SPEED, means the tyres are D-rated and can operate at speeds up to 70 km/h or at inflation pressures as low as 0.6 bar. Even at lower operating speeds and for tractors that have a top speed of 30, 40 or 50km/h these tyres can carry up to 9.5 per cent more load at same inflation versus conventional DT818 tyres. Furthermore, DT818 HIGH SPEED can carry the same loads as DT818 at lower inflation pressure thereby, elongating the footprint generating more traction and pull so that work gets completed faster and at lower cost.
The upgraded tyres will be introduced to the market in two phases. The first six sizes to change, in the first half of 2009 will be:
• 650/65R42 165D/168A8
• 650/65R38 157D/160A8
• 600/65R38 153D/156A8
• 540/65R30 143D/146A8
• 540/65R28 142D/145A8
• 480/65R28 136D/139A8
Followed by a further 7 sizes in the second half of 2009:
• 540/65R38 147D/150A8
• 600/65R34 151D/154A8
• 540/65R34 145D/148A8
• 540/65R24 140D/143A8
• 480/65R24 136D/139A8
• 440/65R28 131D/134A8
• 440/65R24 128D/131A8
Hankook has strengthened its links Northampton Saints Rugby Club by joining its group of elite sponsors. Hankook has had a visible presence at the team’s Franklin’s Gardens ground since January, when it became one of the stadium’s biggest advertisers. However, the tyre manufacturer has since decided to increase its commitment to the club and this new deal will see Hankook’s logo appear on all the Saints’ playing shirts for the next three years.
Hankook’s UK headquarters are in Daventry, Northamptonshire where the company now employs more than 50 people on these premises. It also has more than 1,000 retail locations throughout the UK.
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